William Shakespeare: Henry VIII, Act IV

Act IV

Scene I

A street in Westminster

First Gentleman

Second Gentleman

First Gentleman

You come to take your stand here, and beholdThe Lady Anne pass from her coronation?

Second Gentleman

'Tis all my business. At our last encounter,The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial.

First Gentleman

'Tis very true: but that time offer'd sorrow;This, general joy.

Second Gentleman

'Tis well: the citizens,I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds—As, let 'em have their rights, they are ever forward—In celebration of this day with shows,Pageants and sights of honour.

First Gentleman

Never greater,Nor, I'll assure you, better taken, sir.

Second Gentleman

May I be bold to ask at what that contains,That paper in your hand?

First Gentleman

Yes; 'tis the listOf those that claim their offices this dayBy custom of the coronation.The Duke of Suffolk is the first, and claimsTo be high-steward; next, the Duke of Norfolk,He to be earl marshal: you may read the rest.

Second Gentleman

I thank you, sir: had I not known those customs,I should have been beholding to your paper.But, I beseech you, what's become of Katharine,The princess dowager? how goes her business?

First Gentleman

That I can tell you too. The ArchbishopOf Canterbury, accompanied with otherLearned and reverend fathers of his order,Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles offFrom Ampthill where the princess lay; to whichShe was often cited by them, but appear'd not:And, to be short, for not appearance andThe king's late scruple, by the main assentOf all these learned men she was divorced,And the late marriage made of none effectSince which she was removed to Kimbolton,Where she remains now sick.

Second Gentleman

Alas, good lady!

Trumpets

The trumpets sound: stand close, the queen is coming.

Hautboys

The Order of the Coronation

A lively flourish of Trumpets.

2. Then, two Judges.

3. Lord Chancellor, with the purse and mace before him.

4. Choristers, singing. Music

Mayor of London, bearing the mace. Then Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his head a gilt copper crown.

Marquess Dorset, bearing a sceptre of gold, on his head a demi-coronal of gold. With him, Surrey, bearing the rod of silver with the dove, crowned with an earl's coronet. Collars of SS.

Suffolk, in his robe of estate, his coronet on his head, bearing a long white wand, as high-steward. With him, Norfolk, with the rod of marshalship, a coronet on his head. Collars of SS.

A canopy borne by four of the Cinque-ports; under it, Queen Anne in her robe; in her hair richly adorned with pearl, crowned. On each side her, the Bishops of London and Winchester.

The old Duchess of Norfolk, in a coronal of gold, wrought with flowers, bearing Queen Anne's train.

Certain Ladies or Countesses, with plain circlets of gold without flowers.

They pass over the stage in order and state

Second Gentleman

A royal train, believe me. These I know:Who's that that bears the sceptre?

First Gentleman

Marquess Dorset:And that the Earl of Surrey, with the rod.

Second Gentleman

A bold brave gentleman. That should beThe Duke of Suffolk?

First Gentleman

'Tis the same: high-steward.

Second Gentleman

And that my Lord of Norfolk?

First Gentleman

Yes;

Second Gentleman

Heaven bless thee!

Looking on Queen Anne

Thou hast the sweetest face I ever look'd on.Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel;Our king has all the Indies in his arms,And more and richer, when he strains that lady:I cannot blame his conscience.

First Gentleman

They that bearThe cloth of honour over her, are four baronsOf the Cinque-ports.

Second Gentleman

Those men are happy; and so are all are near her.I take it, she that carries up the trainIs that old noble lady, Duchess of Norfolk.

First Gentleman

First Gentleman

Third Gentleman

Among the crowd i' the Abbey; where a fingerCould not be wedged in more: I am stifledWith the mere rankness of their joy.

Second Gentleman

You sawThe ceremony?

Third Gentleman

That I did.

First Gentleman

How was it?

Third Gentleman

Well worth the seeing.

Second Gentleman

Good sir, speak it to us.

Third Gentleman

As well as I am able. The rich streamOf lords and ladies, having brought the queenTo a prepared place in the choir, fell offA distance from her; while her grace sat downTo rest awhile, some half an hour or so,In a rich chair of state, opposing freelyThe beauty of her person to the people.Believe me, sir, she is the goodliest womanThat ever lay by man: which when the peopleHad the full view of, such a noise aroseAs the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest,As loud, and to as many tunes: hats, cloaks—Doublets, I think,—flew up; and had their facesBeen loose, this day they had been lost. Such joyI never saw before. Great-bellied women,That had not half a week to go, like ramsIn the old time of war, would shake the press,And make 'em reel before 'em. No man livingCould say 'This is my wife' there; all were wovenSo strangely in one piece.

Second Gentleman

But, what follow'd?

Third Gentleman

At length her grace rose, and with modest pacesCame to the altar; where she kneel'd, and saint-likeCast her fair eyes to heaven and pray'd devoutly.Then rose again and bow'd her to the people:When by the Archbishop of CanterburyShe had all the royal makings of a queen;As holy oil, Edward Confessor's crown,The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblemsLaid nobly on her: which perform'd, the choir,With all the choicest music of the kingdom,Together sung 'Te Deum.' So she parted,And with the same full state paced back againTo York-place, where the feast is held.

First Gentleman

Sir,You must no more call it York-place, that's past;For, since the cardinal fell, that title's lost:'Tis now the king's, and call'd Whitehall.

Third Gentleman

I know it;But 'tis so lately alter'd, that the old nameIs fresh about me.

Second Gentleman

What two reverend bishopsWere those that went on each side of the queen?

Third Gentleman

Stokesly and Gardiner; the one of Winchester,Newly preferr'd from the king's secretary,The other, London.

Second Gentleman

He of WinchesterIs held no great good lover of the archbishop's,The virtuous Cranmer.

Third Gentleman

All the land knows that:However, yet there is no great breach; when it comes,Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him.

Second Gentleman

Who may that be, I pray you?

Third Gentleman

Thomas Cromwell;A man in much esteem with the king, and trulyA worthy friend. The king has made him masterO' the jewel house,And one, already, of the privy council.

Second Gentleman

He will deserve more.

Third Gentleman

Yes, without all doubt.Come, gentlemen, ye shall go my way, whichIs to the court, and there ye shall be my guests:Something I can command. As I walk thither,I'll tell ye more.